Inflatable marking device

Abstract

An inflatable marking device for marking a position comprising an inflatable balloon for receiving a lighter than air gas for inflating the balloon to cause the balloon to rise to mark a position. A line is secured at one end around the throat of the balloon and at the other end to a handle to maintain the balloon at the desired position. The handle is provided with a nipple for receiving the throat of the balloon, a spool around which the line is wound, and a shoulder to keep the line from overlapping onto the nipple when unwinding the line from the spool. One end of the handle is an opening for sealing around a gas cartridge when the cartridge is inserted therein, and a pin valve is positioned within the opening for engaging the cartridge to cause the gas to escape from the cartridge, through the nipple, and into the balloon.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for inflating a balloon with a line attached thereto, comprising: an elongate member having a spool formed at a first longitudinal end thereof for having a line wound thereon, which line is attachable at a first end to a balloon;   said elongate member further having a handle formed at a second longitudinal end thereof for enabling gripping of said elongate member while said line unwinds from said spool, said handle being adapted to receive the throat of a balloon thereon;   said elongate member further having an opening formed in the first longitudinal end thereof for sealingly receiving a cartridge containing lighter-than-air gas;   said elongate member further having a passageway through said handle for enabling communication of the gas from said opening through said handle; and   means formed with said elongate member in said opening for engaging the cartridge sealingly received in said opening in a manner which causes the gas therein to escape through said passageway and into a balloon, the throat of which is received on said handle, thereby inflating said balloon.   
     
     
       2. A device as in claim 1 further comprising means for attaching a second end of the line to said elongate member. 
     
     
       3. The device of claim 1 wherein said opening includes a space formed central to said spool in the first longitudinal end of said elongate member. 
     
     
       4. The device of claim 1 wherein said spool is concentric with the longitudinal axis of said elongate member and is open at the first longitudinal end of said elongate member for enabling unwinding of said line therefrom. 
     
     
       5. The device of claim 1 wherein said first end of said line is secured around the throat of said balloon for holding said balloon within a certain distance from the elongate member.   
     
     
       6. The device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a pressure-sensitive adhesive for sealing the throat of said balloon. 
     
     
       7. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elongate member is further provided with a shoulder for preventing the overlapping of said line onto said handle. 
     
     
       8. The device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising means for securing a second end of said line to the shoulder of said handle, said securing means being formed integral with said elongate member. 
     
     
       9. The device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said securing means comprises a hole through the shoulder which has means for providing one-way directional movement of said line therethrough. 
     
     
       10. The device as claimed in claim 7 further comprising means for anchoring said line on said shoulder. 
     
     
       11. A method of marking a position with a balloon comprising the steps of: flowing a lighter-than-air gas through a nipple at a second end of an elongate member into the open throat of a balloon surrounding the nipple, thereby inflating the balloon with the gas, which elongate member has a line wound thereon which is secured at one end of said line to the balloon and at the other end to the elongate member;   removing the open throat of the inflated balloon from the nipple;   sealing the open throat of the balloon; and   after removing the inflated balloon, gripping the nipple in a manner such that the elongate member is positioned sufficiently vertically to allow the line to unwind from the opposite end thereof.   
     
     
       12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of: securing the elongated member to the position to be marked, thereby preventing movement of the balloon from the position.